Jury convicts man for allowing meth materials at home

EDWARDSVILLE — A jury Thursday deliberated about an hour before convicting a man of unlawful use of property and unlawful storage of methamphetamine manufacturing materials.

Prosecutors pointed out that he owned the property and he had the only key to the garage in which most of the meth making materials were found.

Carl A. Shaver, 33, of the 4300 block of Illinois Route 143 was convicted, even though witnesses testified he was not at the scene when police arrived about 2:40 a.m. March 6, 2011.

However, he was accused of allowing the materials at his home and improperly storing them, not manufacturing the drug.

“That defendant owned the home. He was the only one on the deed to the home. There was an attached garage; he had the only key,” Assistant State’s Attorney Katie Bucher told the jury in her closing argument.

She pointed out the number of chemicals found in the garage and in Shaver’s bedroom but not in rooms of other residents of the house.

Officers found gasoline, antifreeze, Liquid Fire drain cleaner, large amounts of salt and several other chemicals used to make the drug. Some methamphetamine residue and other suspicious items were found in Shaver’s bedroom.

Deputy Michael Gooch testified that the chemical smell was so strong that he went into a coughing fit while interviewing one of the occupants. Deputy C.J. Reckman identified several items, like tin foil and rubber gloves, often found in the process of making the drug.

Defense attorney Steve Griffin argued that no one was able to place Shaver at the scene or say that his client was making methamphetamine. He hinted that perhaps someone else was make methamphetamine in the home.

After the trial, Buckley said that police were called to the scene to break up a fight. At trial, witness Linda Motley testified that Shaver was not at the scene when police arrived.

However, Buckley said authorities are looking for Arthur Hawks, who was scheduled to testify but failed to show for the trial and has not been found since. He said Hawks was expected to testify that Shaver was at the house and hit Hawks with an ax handle. That was the disturbance that resulted in the initial call, Buckley said.

Shaver’s wife and co-defendant, Tammy Shaver, was on a list of people scheduled to testify for the defense Thursday. She is currently serving 42 months in prison on a charge of unlawful use of property. She was on a list of defense witnesses but was not called to the stand.

“Despite efforts of some witnesses to derail the case, justice prevailed,” he said. Associate Judge Neil Schroeder set sentencing for a latter date. Shaver was allowed to remain free on bond. The crimes are punishable by between three and seven years on prison.